System for the treatment of waste products

ABSTRACT

An integrated system for the treatment of waste products such as domestic, industrial, or commercial trash comprises the placement of waste in barrel-shaped, self-supporting containers, compaction of the waste in the containers in an especially adapted waste compactor, and the fitting of covers to the containers to provide sealed readily transportable and disposable packages of compacted waste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an integrated system for the treatment of wasteproducts, such as domestic, commercial, or industrial trash and thelike, and embodies a method of waste tretment, apparatus adapted for usetherein, and a novel readily disposable waste package resultingtherefrom.

More particularly the invention involves the compaction of wasteproducts in barrel-like containers, in an especially adapted wastecompactor to produce disposable packages of compacted waste. Thecontainers may, for example, comprise disposable bio-degradable barrelsof fibrous material, of the type disclosed in applicants' co-pendingU.S. patent application No. 530,088 entitled "Collapsible BarrelStructure".

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Applicants are aware of the following U.S. patents relating to wastecompactors:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,616, May 5, 1973;

U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,123, May 10, 1977;

U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,599, Nov. 11, 1980;

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the novel concept of compacting waste intoself-supporting, barrel-like containers of sufficient strength andrigidity to retain the compacted waste for transportation and disposal.The containers may, for example, comprise conventional steel drums, oralternatively may comprise disposable bio-degradable barrels ofcardboard or like fibrous materials, as disclosed in the aforementioned,co-pending patent application. When suitably filled with compactedwaste, the barrels may be suitably sealed, for example, with a fittedcover, thereby producing readily transportable and disposable wastepackages.

A waste compactor in accordance with the invention for use in theintegrated waste treatment system may comprise, for example, astationary frame having a cooperating pivotal door, the frame and doortogether defining a substantially cylindrical compacting chamber whenthe door is closed, a fluid-pressure-operated ram with a verticallyreciprocal platen mounted on the frame above said chamber for compactingwaste in a barrel located in the chamber, and a barrel-support anvilassociated with the door on which a barrel may be positioned formovement into and out of the compacting chamber.

Additional features of the apparatus aspect of the invention include,for example, the provision of an auxiliary load opening associated withthe compactor frame allowing waste to be fed into a barrel in thecompacting chamber without having to open the main compactor door, theprovision of a germicidal lamp within the compacting chamber forminimizing bacterial growth in the waste products contained therein, anda barrel protector ring having aligning segments on the interior of thedoor and frame to avoid damage to a barrel from the descending platenduring waste compaction.

The inventive system of waste disposal is considered superior totraditional systems in which waste is compacted in collapsible bags andthe like. The use of self-supporting containers, for example, allows fora greater degree of compaction without bursting of the container bothduring compaction and subsequently during shipment. The inventive systemis thus suited to diverse waste disposal applications including, forexample, use by hospitals, schools, recyclers, or fast-food chains.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste compactor in accordance with theinvention showing skeletal details of the compactor framework with thecovering panels removed.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the compactor as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the compactor.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the compactor.

FIG. 5 is a detailed rear elevational view, to an enlarged scale, of apart of the compactor structure, notably an auxiliary loading chute.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a compacted waste package inaccordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated a waste compactor10 having a main frame portion 12, and a door 14 pivoted to the mainframe by suitable hinges 16 (see FIG. 3).

The main frame portion includes a semi-cylindrical interior wall 18, anda base wall 20, while door 14 has a semi-cylindrical interior wall 22complementary to wall 18, and a base wall 24 which is attached (bywelding or the like) a circular anvil 26. The door is shown in the openposition, but it will be understood that when the door is closed, anvil26 is received on base wall 20 while walls 18 and 22 are connected todefine a cylindrical compacting chamber. A suitable locking handle andlatch mechanism (not shown) may be provided for releasably latching thedoor and frame is closed position.

Above the compacting chamber, the main frame portion 12 supports avertically oriented hydraulic ram structure including a ram cylinder 28having a piston rod 30 to the end of which is secured a circular platen32 with reinforcing ribs 34. The diameter of the platen is adapted tothe diameter of the compacting chamber and the stroke of the ram ispreferably sufficient for the platen to reach substantially to the baseof the compacting chamber. (Pressure controls may be provided for theram to automatically move the platen to required levels duringcompaction of a container as the container is progressively filled withcompacted waste.) The platen also has associated guide rods 36, 38received in guides 40, 42 in the frame.

Wall 22 of door 24 includes a projecting barrel protector ring segment44 at a height above anvil 26 sufficient to accommodate a barrel ofspecified height therebelow, and wall 18 has a complementary protectorring segment 46. When the door is closed, the protector ring segmentscome together to form a peripheral protector ring for protecting the rimof a barrel in the compacting chamber from the descending platen.

The dimensions of the compacting chamber may, for example, be adapted toaccommodate below the protector ring a standard 55-gal. steel drum, oran alternative barrel which may be of the type disclosed in theaforementioned co-pending patent application.

Above the barrel protector ring segment 46, and recessed into wall 18 isa germicidal lamp 48 (see FIG. 2) and also above ring segment 46 wall 18is provided with an auxiliary waste-receiving opening 50 communicatingwith a pivotal chute 52 attached to the rear of frame 12 by hinge 54.The chute has a pivotal-type operating lever 56 and latch 58, and stays60. Suitably profiled gusset plates 62 connect curved opening 50 in wall18 with the planar opening 63 receiving the pivotal chute 52. Opening 50and chute 52 provide access to the top of the compacting chamber withouthaving to open the main door 14.

In use, a barrel 64 which may be a steel drum, or a bio-degradablefibrous barrel as previously noted, is placed on anvil 26 and filledwith waste to be compacted. Door 14 is latched closed and the ram 28 isset in motion causing platen 32 to compact the waste in the barrel.(Suitable electrical and hydraulic controls, not shown, are incorporatedin the compactor and may, for example, be housed in compartments abovethe compacting chamber.) After compaction of the initial charge of wastein the barrel, door 14 may be opened to remove the barrel from the frameand allow an additional charge of waste to be placed in the barrel, sothat the compacting process may be repeated. Alternatively, in order toavoid having to open the main door, small waste items can be insertedprogressively into the compacting chamber for receipt in the top of thebarrel through chute 52 and opening 50. During its stay in thecompacting chamber, the barrel is protected from the platen by thebarrel protector ring, and operation of the germicidal lamp reducesbacterial growth in the compacted waste while this remains in thechamber.

When a barrel has been suitably filled with compacted waste, it may beremoved by opening door 14 and the barrel may then be sealed, forexample, by fitting a cover to the barrel. In the case of fibrouscollapsible barrels of the type referred to in the above co-pendingapplication, for example, a cover 66 may be pressed under an internalbarrel flange 68 (see FIG. 7) to provide suitable sealed retention ofthe cover. Thus, fitting of the cover to a barrel could be accomplisedin the compactor chamber by use of the platen. Flange 68 may be formedby a fold in the collapsible cylindrical body portion of the barrel, anda suitable fold defines a flange 70 supporting a removable barrel base72. Alternatively, the barrel flanges may be formed by rings fitted tothe ends of the body portion. For a fuller description of collapsiblebarrels of this nature, reference is made to the co-pending application,the disclosure of which is included herein by reference.

A filled barrel is shown in FIG. 7, and forms a readily transportableand disposal waste package. The invention lends itself to the efficientdisposal and compaction of various forms of waste. For example, it isbeen found that a bio-degradable disposable barrel of the type describedand having the capacity of a 55-gal. drum can receive about 9 cubicyards of compacted waste of the general type received from a fast-foodrestaurant and consisting essentially of paper, boxes, plasticcontainers and the like. Further, since a container may be closed beforeit is removed from the compactor, air supply to the compacted waste isminimized which also impedes bacterial growth and minimizes odors. Theclosed containers are of minimal attraction to rodents and storage timeprior to transportation can be increased. This factor allows lessfrequent pickups and more economical handling of waste.

Use of steel drums as the containers in the inventive system, allow thesystem to be applied to the compaction of glass or steel lathe turningsand the like. Brass and aluminum lathe turnings and aluminum cans arepreferably compacted in the bio-degradable-type barrels. This allows theentire container and its contents to be placed into a furnace formelting the metal. Since there is no metal in the barrel itself, thebarrel will burn away without contaminating the brass or aluminum in anyway. By compaction of metals in this manner, a better percentage ofrecovery is maintained.

As previously noted, the main door of the compactor may be used toreceive full bags or large amounts of waste, while the auxiliary chute50 may be used for smaller amounts of waste. When the compactor is to beused in an application such as a domestic apartment complex, where dropchutes are used, a stuffer unit may be attached to the compactor.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:
 1. A waste compactor comprising astationary frame having a cooperating pivotal door, the frame and doortogether defining a uniformly cylindrical compacting chamber when thedoor is closed, a reciprocatory compaction ram with a verticallyreciprocable platen mounted on the frame above said chamber, a barrelsupport anvil associated with the door on which a barrel may bepositioned for movement into and out of the compacting chamber, ahorizontally protruding barrel protector ring segment on an internalcompactor chamber-defining wall of the door and a complementaryhorizontally protruding barrel protector ring segment on an internalchamber-defining wall of the frame, said segments cooperating to definea barrel protector ring around the interior of the chamber when the dooris closed adapted to fit above the rim of a barrel in the chamber andprotect the rim against damage by the platen, said barrel protector ringprotruding horizontally into the interior of said chamber.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 including a germicidal lamp located in a wallportion of the frame defining the compacting chamber and situated at alevel above the rim of a barrel located in the chamber.
 3. The inventionof claim 1 including an opening in a semicylindrical wall portion of theframe defining the compacting chamber, the opening being located at alevel above the rim of a barrel located in the chamber, and a pivotallymounted chute associated with a planar portion of the frame forobtaining access to the opening, whereby waste products may be insertedinto a barrel when the door is closed.
 4. A waste compactor comprising astationary frame having a cooperating pivotal door, the frame having apart-cylindrical wall and the door having a cooperating part-cylindricalwall, said walls together defining a substantially cylindricalcompacting chamber when the door is closed, a reciprocatory compactionram with a vertically reciprocal platen mounted on the frame above saidchamber, a barrel support anvil associated with the door on which abarrel may be positioned for movement into and out of the compactingchamber, an opening in the part-cylindrical wall of the frame at a levelabove the rim of a barrel located in the chamber, the frame having aplanar portion behind said opening, a further opening in the planarportion, and profiled gussets connecting said openings so as to provideinsertion means for waste products into the compacting chamber when thedoor is closed.
 5. The invention of claim 4 including a chute pivotallymounted on the planar portion of the frame for selectively opening andclosing the further opening.
 6. A waste compactor comprising:(a) astationary frame having a cooperating pivotal door, the frame and doortogether defining a cylindrical compacting chamber when the door isclosed; (b) a reciprocatory compaction ram with a verticallyreciprocable platen mounted on the frame above said chamber; (c) abarrel support anvil associated with the door on which a barrel may bepositioned for movement into and out of the compaction chamber; (d) abarrel protector ring segment on an internal compactor chamber-definingwall of the door and a complementary barrel protector ring segment on aninternal chamber-defining wall of the frame, said segments cooperatingto define a barrel protector ring around the interior of the compactingchamber when the door is closed and adapted to fit above the rim of abarrel in the compacting chamber and protect said barrel rim againstdamage by the platen; (e) a wall opening in a semicylindrical wallportion of the frame defining the compacting chamber, said wall openingbeing located at a level above the rim of the barrel located in thechamber; (f) a chute opening formed in a planar portion of the framebehind said wall opening, said chute opening having associated therewitha pivotally mounted chute; and (g) profiled gussets connecting said wallopening and said chute opening.